Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 15 - Shadow-Kissed

As the door clicked shut behind Suzanne and Rose, I turned my attention to Abe. The moment Rose left the room his body language changed, becoming much more serious. Predatory almost.

"So Dimitri, we need to have a discussion," Abe started, sitting back on the couch looking directly at me, tenting his fingers again. "Man to man. While I've not been in contact with Rose until now, please don't mistake that for disinterest or a lack of caring. I've been following Rose's progress from afar for a long time now. You need to understand I'm very invested in my daughter's wellbeing and happiness."

Pausing to regard me he continued, "I want you to know that I intend to protect Rose. I won't allow Strigoi to touch her, and I won't tolerate her being messed around or her heart broken. You know I'm a man of significant means. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than expending those resources punishing anyone who hurt her." The menace in his voice was unmistakable.

Gauging Abe for a moment, I considered my words carefully before I spoke them.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. I feel exactly the same way. Your daughter is extremely precious to me. I've already killed for her, and to protect her I've willingly put myself in situations where I could have died. I won't accept anyone hurting her, treating her poorly or manipulating her." While I didn't say it, the implication was clear - even her father.

Abe looked impressed. My words had surprised him.

"It's good we're in agreement, then. To use an old-fashioned expression, may I ask your intentions?"

"I intend to ask for her hand," I said without hesitation. "Not now, she's too young, and she needs to experience the world more first. I don't want to tie her down or hold her back. But when the time comes, I aim to make her my bride," I told him formally.

"You love her." It was a statement, not a question.

"I do."

"And you believe she loves you, too?"

"Yes."

"Then I wish you both every success. Finding real love is an unusual thing. The older I get, the more precious I realize it is," Abe said with a sigh. Absentmindedly pouring himself another cup of coffee, he refilled my cup.

"I also wanted to speak with you about Rose being shadow-kissed."

My surprise must have been evident.

"I should explain. I have been keeping tabs on Rose since I found out about her when she was four years old. Although she's been unaware of me, I've never forsaken her. Since I was informed about her being shadow-kissed, I've had historians and researchers looking into what it means for her, and to be frank some of it is disturbing. Has she shown any signs of extreme anger or mania?"

Looking at my hands bleakly, I quickly outlined the symptoms and effects Rose had experienced so far. Abe nodded, looking concerned but unsurprised.

"We'll both need to do what we can to help her then," he said. "And of course you'll need to be careful to use protection."

"Protection?"

"When you're intimate," he said, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I'm not following you?"

Abe looked up suddenly, alarm evident in his eyes.

"Dimitri – when a Dhampir woman is brought back to life using spirit magic, it heals her completely. A shadow-kissed Dhampir woman is capable of falling pregnant with a human, Dhampir or Moroi man. This is obviously news to you?" he asked.

Looking at Abe, a string of Russian obscenities were pouring out of my mouth before I could stop them. Running my fingers through my hair, I remembered that Rose was on the pill.

"Yes. I had no idea that was possible, and I'm certain Rose doesn't either. Thank God she's on the pill!"

"On the pill? Why is she on the pill if she didn't know you could get her pregnant? Unless there's someone else?" Abe finished, coming to the same erroneous conclusion I had just hours before.

"All female Novices go on the pill in their junior year," I explained distractedly. "It allows them to control their periods around the rigorous combat testing."

"Makes sense," Abe muttered. Looks like he'd been as clued up on those sorts of things as I had been!

As I processed this new information, the most significant revelation came to me.

"So Rose and I could have our own child together?" I asked, smiling joyously. Seeing Abe's concerned look, I added, "Not now. When she's older, and we're married, I mean."

"Yes. There's not a lot of information about the shadow-kissed, but it seems pretty certain that Rose could bear the child of another Dhampir."

"Rose needs to know this," I said still in wonder. "Would you like me to tell her?"

"Yes. I think it's a discussion the two of you should have, and sooner rather than later."

"I'd need to reveal that you've been keeping track of her over the years. Is that ok?"

"That's fine. Maybe it will help us if she knows that? To know that I've always cared, I mean?" he said, suddenly seeming a lot less sure of himself. Sipping his coffee, he abruptly changed topics again. "The final thing I wanted to speak to you about is your status as Rose's mentor."

I stiffened waiting for him to continue.

"You were right to conceal the nature of your relationship with Rose at the academy. Had you been discovered as lovers, your future and hers would have been ruined. Can Alberta be trusted to keep your secret?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it. Rose has had a difficult relationship with her mother over the years. In many ways, Alberta stepped in to fill the gap. She's like a second mother to her."

"Good. In the meantime, I suggest you send an email to the school informing them you intend to take an indefinite leave of absence as a Guardian. They'll assume it's because you're helping Rose hide from Strigoi, and you will be, but should your relationship become known, there can be no objection to a romance having developed between you and Rose while you are a civilian guest in my home."

"But what will I do if I'm not a Guardian?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.

"You'll still be a Guardian," Abe explained. "Just not currently employed at St. Vladimir's or deployed elsewhere. If you're interested, I could employ you as a consultant to work with some of my Guardians? I know you were the top student in your year at St. Basil's, and that since then you've earned a reputation as one of the world's most formidable Guardians. It would be an honor to have you stay in my home and work with my team," he continued. "It's concerned me that some of them have become complacent and are at risk of losing their skills."

Considering the issue, I had to admit it solved a lot of problems. I wasn't prepared to stay indefinitely as a guest enjoying Abe's largesse. I couldn't risk my relationship with Rose being exposed while she was still officially enrolled at St. Vladimir's. I needed to be here so I could be with Rose, but I still had my family back home relying on help from my paycheck. And if I was honest, a lot of my self-worth was invested in being a Guardian. I wouldn't feel like a man if I weren't working for my living. Holding out my hand to Abe I said, "That sounds like an offer too good to refuse."

Taking my hand, Abe shook it. As he did so, I could mentally hear my Babushka saying an old Russian proverb 'Warm a frozen snake and it will be the first to bite you.'